Captain Vikram Batra was an Indian soldier who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military honour, for his supreme sacrifice during the 1999 India–Pakistan War (Kargil).
Captain Vikram Batra was born on September 9, 1974. He was a resident of Bandla village in Palampur district of Himachal Pradesh. His father's name is Shri Girdhari Lal Batra. His mother is Mrs. Kamal Kanta. His brother's name is Vishal Batra. He was born fourteen minutes before his brother Vishal. He was the eldest among twin brothers.
Captain Vikram Batra did his primary education from D.A.V. Received from Public School, Palampur. Then he went to Kendriya Vidyalaya Palampur.
After completing the twelfth class board examination in 1992, he joined DAV College, Chandigarh in B.Sc. Medical Sciences. Captain Batra joined NCC while in college and was awarded the Best NCC Cadet (Air Wing) in the Northern Region. He was selected for 40-day paratrooping training with his NCC Air Wing unit at Pinjore Airfield and Flying Club, about 35 km from Chandigarh.
In 1994 he passed the CDS examination and was selected to join the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun in 1994. There he joined the Jessore Company of the Manekshaw Battalion. Thereafter, he was commissioned into 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, an infantry regiment.
After receiving commission, he was posted to Sopore in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir as his first posting. By April 1999, his unit was preparing to leave for peace.
In January 1999, Batra was sent on a commando course in Belgaum, Karnataka. The course lasted for two months and during this time, he received the highest grading he received – Instructor Grade. But the detection of large-scale infiltration by the Pakistani Army in the Kargil sector in early May 1999 changed the operational scenario and the unit's move to its peace station was cancelled.
As part of Operation Vijay, then Lieutenant Vikram Batra's unit was deployed to the Dras area of Kargil in June 1999.
His platoon was given the responsibility of capturing Point 5140. This peak was one of the most dangerous and important peaks of the Dras region and was heavily guarded. Delta Company led by Lieutenant Vikram Batra and Bravo Company led by Lieutenant Sanjeev Singh Jamwal were tasked with capturing Point 5140 in a night attack.
Both the companies were attacking from different directions to surprise the enemy. At an altitude of 17,000 feet, Lieutenant Vikram Batra and his men planned to approach the hill from the rear, to achieve the vital element of surprise. Despite all odds, they climbed the rocky mountain, but as they neared the top, they were hit by machine gun fire from Pakistani attackers. Undeterred by this, Lieutenant Batra and five of his men climbed up and after reaching the top threw two grenades at the machine gun post. Lieutenant Batra single-handedly killed three soldiers in close combat and despite being badly wounded in return, he regrouped his men and continued the mission. In this way the control of the Indian Army was established at Point 5140.
After that Captain Vikram Batra's battalion reached Mushko Valley.
On reaching Mushko Valley, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles was placed under the command of 79 Mountain Brigade. The next task for Batra's battalion was to capture Point 4875, a strategically important peak located in the Mushko Valley. Since this point had complete visibility on National Highway 1 from Dras to Matayan, it became imperative for the Indian Army to capture Point 4875. A 30-40 kilometer stretch of the national highway was under direct enemy surveillance. From Point 4875, the Pakistanis could easily see Indian movements.
In another operation at Point 4875 on 7 July 1999, his company was tasked with clearing a narrow area with sharp cutting on either side. He completed this task successfully and attained martyrdom. For his outstanding contribution and extraordinary bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.
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